Bird Box

In the earlier timeline, two weeks pass. Most radio stations go off air, and Malorie feels claustrophobic stuck in the house. One night, she and the others throw a party, though Malorie refrains from drinking or smoking since she is pregnant. Cheryl interrupts Tom, who is playing piano, to tell everyone to listen to Rodney Barrett, the last active radio DJ. After rambling for a few minutes, Barrett states that he intends to “take [...] the one thing I’ve got left that you can’t take from me” (60), before shooting himself.

Moments later, they hear a knock on the door. From outside, a woman introduces herself as Olympia. Tom and Felix argue with Don, who opposes admitting another person into the house, given their limited supplies. Overruling him, they let Olympia in and feel around her with brooms before opening their eyes. Olympia, who is four months pregnant, explains that her husband went missing weeks ago. She decided to come over after she heard the piano.

In the later timeline, Malorie recalls teaching the Boy and the Girl how to wake with their eyes closed, how to retrieve water from the well, and how to track her movements by sound only. She imagines that Tom would approve.

A few hours after passing the man on the boat, the Girl asks whether he is the man whose voice sang on a cassette tape they listened listen to; Malorie reminds her not to speak unnecessarily. The Girl and the Boy tap Malorie, asking for food; she gives it to them and wonders whether she is a good mother.

In the earlier timeline, Olympia takes a room next to Malorie’s, vacated by Felix. As the others work, sleep, or play, Malorie asks Tom about George, the owner of the house, who placed the ad in the newspaper. Tom explains George was “progressive, a big thinker” (68). George came up with schemes and plans that he hoped would allow him to safely look at the creatures.

One day, George tested his theories by recording hours of outdoor footage on a video camera. Over Don’s objections, George convinced the others to tie him down in a chair and let him watch the footage in a separate room. As he watched the footage, George’s behavior became erratic. He bled to death after pushing so hard against the rope that it cut into him. Despite George’s failure, Tom insists, “We can’t stop trying” (71).

In the earlier timeline, Felix makes his way to the well to fill buckets with water as Jules guides him from the doorway and Cheryl monitors their progress from inside, following protocol. As he fills the first two buckets, Felix thinks he hears noises nearby. As he fills the third bucket, he decides that the noise is coming from inside the well; he wonders if the bucket is heavier as he lifts it. After bringing the bucket to the surface, he feels only water inside, but he suddenly hears a sound like wet feet on the grass. Leaving the bucket, he runs back into the house, falling several times. He and the others feel to make sure nothing came in with them before removing their blindfolds. At Tom’s suggestion, they reinforce the window coverings throughout the house.

In the later timeline, Malorie recalls a line from a parenting book she read: “Your baby is smarter than you think” (81). She recalls an occasion when she thought there was an intruder in the house, but it turned out to be the Boy, who escaped from his locked crib. Malorie hopes the children are smart enough to deal with what lies ahead.

In the earlier timeline, the housemates spend the night together in the living room. In the morning, they debate whether to drink the water from the first two buckets Jules filled. Tom convinces the others to lock him in a room, out of caution, and let him sample the water. He does so without any ill effects. They return to normal activity.

In the later timeline, the Boy hears something moving on the riverbank to their left. They pause to listen, and the boat hits the bank, stopping. As Malorie tries to push off, she hears the growling of wolves. One of them slashes her shoulder, causing her to bleed. As some of the wolves attempt to board the boat, Malorie manages to free it; the children are frightened but okay.

In the earlier timeline, Olympia and Malorie worry together about giving birth in a few months’ time.

About two weeks after the incident at the well, Tom announces his intention to go looking for guide dogs, who could warn of danger. Don objects, suggesting it’s better to wait for help. They put it to a vote, and Tom wins. Jules offers to accompany him. The next day, Jules and Tom put on makeshift helmets and pack bags for their journey, which they expect to take 12 hours. They leave.